Band:
Robert Lowe – lead vocals
Lars Johansson – lead guitars
Mats "Mappe" Björkman – rhythm guitars
Leif Edling – bass
Jan Lindh – drums, percussion
Discography:
Epicus Doomicus Metallicus (1986)
Nightfall (1987)
Ancient Dreams (1988)
Tales of Creation (1989)
Live (1990)
Chapter VI (1992)
Candlemass sjunger Sigge Fürst (EP) (1993)
As It Is, As It Was (1994)
Dactylis Glomerata (1998)
From the 13th Sun (1999)
Doomed for live (2003)
Candlemass (2005)
King of the Grey Islands (2007)
Lucifer Rising (EP) (2008)
Death Magic Doom (2009)
Guests:
Info
Live album and DVD
Released 23/4-2010
Reviewed 24/5-2010
Links:
candlemass.se
myspace
nuclearblast
Sure, some will argue that this is no longer Candlemass as Messiah Marcolin (or however you spell it) is no longer singing in the band but for my part that is of no concern as they have a singer that listens to the name of Robert Lowe. He has been in the band since 2007 or something like that, if I am somewhat correctly informed.
Musically it is as I said doom metal, meaning that the band plays slow, very slow music with a definite era of doom and darkness all crowned by vocals in the same spirit as well as darkish lyrics. It is a style of music many seem to try to emulate but they often fail in their quests.
In opposite to the die-hard fans of this band I will say that Robert Lowe is a way better vocalist than Messiah, whom I really never liked but I must confess that his presence on stage is quite impressive. However, Robert Lowe does sing a lot better and has a much better voice than Messiah, I have now changed my residence to hide from angry fans of this band who wants to kill me for saying things like that. Still I am just a reviewer and my opinion is mine.
Ashes to Ashes is a document over some of the best tracks of the band’s career, it is an hour of history more or less, of course this depends on your point of view. But what strikes me is the fact that this record sounds very good, much better than most of the band’s studio efforts which of course reflects my view of this band. And the fact that all the songs on this record are really good does not make anything about it worse.
I also must praise Robert Lowe and his vocals on this record, he really carries the songs and makes it feel almost like you were there, or like you are at a live show with Candlemass, and that is not really a bad place to be at as this band really knows how to make a show.
In the end though I can only recommend you to pick up either the live record or the DVD that will be released a little later this year. I can assure you that it is well worth listening to, more than once and I am completely sure of one thing and that is that I will not burn this record and turn it to ashes.
HHHHHHH
